El Nino is a regional climate phenomenon which affects weather patterns in areas where kelp forests are found, e.g., the coast of California. Some effects observed during El Nino events include: increased rainfall and stream flow, decreased oceanic upwelling, shifting of oceanic current patterns. Consequently, the terrestrial and oceanic contributions of nitrogen to the kelp forest may change (use case 1), and thus the inputs to the nitrogen budget in use case 2. Additionally, winter storms during El Nino events may be stronger than average which can result in the removal of kelp plants, ie, a major sink in the nitrogen budget (use case 2).